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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cute book!, September 12, 2003
Heroine: still has her "baby fat" Wendy Wright is devastated when she hears that Moffat Corner's bi-weekly newspaper may have to shut down because one of its major advertisers is pulling their financial support and pressuring others to do the same. Enlisting the aid of best friends Libby and Riley, Wendy pledges to keep the paper open by offering their services as ad sales people and journalists, and their tactic seem to be buying the dying periodical some time. But then the subject of their first major article goes missing and what began as simple volunteer work takes a turn for the mysterious--and the dangerous! What worked for me: Wendy was a pretty savvy young lady and had tremendous dedication and perseverance where her cause was concerned. I thought the main plot of "Saviors of the Bugle" was interesting, but was especially impressed by how deftly the author intertwined intense subplots involving difficult subjects such as child and animal abuse, grieving family members, and government corruption without making the book too heavy. Size-wise Wendy started out chubby, or at least thinking she was chubby but by the end of the book she realized she wasn't big at all. (Plus it didn't hurt when her mother stopped overfeeding her.) What didn't work for me: Having characters named Wendy and Wanda within a breath of each other had me confused at times. (That'll teach me not to speed read!) Overall: This really cute read for Middle Graders and Jr. High Schoolers provides an interesting way to get a look into the inner workings of journalism. It also presents an opening for discussions on civics, ethics, and other tough topics with teachers and parents.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful character development, June 12, 2006
Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (6/06)
Barbara Elmore's book "Saviors of the Bugle" is a surprisingly compelling tale of one very determined 14 year old girl and her unwavering goal to save the community newspaper. Wendy Wright has grown up reading Moffat Corner's twice-weekly paper, The Bugle. In addition to being a devoted reader, Wendy feels further connection to the paper as her late sister wrote a column for the paper (which started with Wendy's prodding). When stories begin to appear that hint at the possibility of closing the newspaper, Wendy cannot bear the thought of no longer having the Bugle in her life. She immediately seeks the truth behind these stories, as well as seeks a way to save the paper. Armed with her best friends, Libby and Riley, these three unlikely heroes set out to do what they can to save the paper.
Their joint adventure begins with the three friends writing articles that they think will help increase readership. They work for free, because they know the publisher cannot afford to pay them. Pretty soon they stumble into the mystery of the missing school mascot, and Wendy nearly sacrifices her own life in trying to save this dog. Wendy and her friends learn more about their town than they ever imagined they would, but they ultimately succeed in their mission.
Set up behind the main story are the stories of a grieving family, tales of child abuse and animal abuse, and the realities of small-town life. These back stories give "Saviors of the Bugle" a more truthful feel, as it is hard not to fall in love with this town and its inhabitants.
The most impressive part of this book is the characters. Each character is well-developed and very realistic. Further, the heroes of this book are ordinary kids who found something they were passionate about. They are not kids who do extraordinary things every day. Rather, they are kids who have insecurities, are uncomfortable with themselves and not sure how to stand up to authority, even if that authority is wrong. In trying to save The Bugle, these kids find a strength they never knew they had.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gold Nugget, March 29, 2004
Saviors of the Bugle by Barbara Elmore is one of my personal top 10 all time favorite books. That is saying something when I have been teaching middle school reading and literature for 22 years. I feel like someone who has unexpectedly found a gold nugget. Saviors of the Bugle is a well-written and charming story. It has everything I look for in a great book. It has complex and intriguing characters, good plot development, and an interesting story line with a few unexpected twists and turns. Saviors of the Bugle is the type of book you don't want to put down because you can't wait to see what happens next. It is a book that at times made me laugh and at other times brought tears to my eyes. The book is about a three friends that set out to save their local newspaper, the Bugle. However, the book has many layers and sub plots as well. Wendy, Libby, and Riley are the type of kids you would want as your own friends. I enjoyed the book very much and recommend it highly. It is on my top ten list of moderen classics with The Outsiders, Maniac Magee, Hatchet, and a few others. Barbara Elmore is an outstanding author that I put in the same league as my other favorite authors; Jerry Spinelli, Gary Paulsen, S.E. Hinton and Barbra Park. Don't miss this book, it is an outstanding novel
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